Running Short On Time

Suncoast Senior Alondra Cooper Looks To Cap Her Career With One Final State Title.

February 25, 2004|By Sharon Robb STAFF WRITER

RIVIERA BEACH — This season there is added incentive for Alondra Cooper of Suncoast.

Since she started running track as a freshman, she always had another year to improve and collect more record times and state titles.

This year, as a senior committed to the University of Illinois, she realizes this is her final chance to put the finishing touches on an already distinguished high school track career.

The three-time 800-meter state champion and national age group champion -- also versatile in the 100 hurdles, which she has also won a state title in, the long jump and triple jump -- would like to go out a state champion again and see the girls' program win another team title. The four-time state champions finished third last year behind Tallahassee Florida High and Pompano Beach.

"I just want to progress even more ... better my times, better my jumping marks ... just better my performance," said Cooper, who competed in the heptathlon for the U.S. team at this past summer's World Youth Athletics Track and Field Championships in Canada.

"It's been a great four years. You really don't want to leave but you have to move on and get on with your life. I am ready to move on to the next level. I still dream about the Olympics. My biggest competition is the clock."

Cooper, trained by former Suncoast coach Stan Saunders of the Roosevelt Express Track Club since she was 10, and Hazel Lucas are helping first-year girls' coach Lisa Olds with the high school team, steeped in winning tradition and selected as the team to beat in the preseason poll.

"Alondra is every coach's dream. She is disciplined and works hard. We are using her as our guide to get the girls motivated," said Olds, a marathon runner and psychology teacher. "We have a nice mix of veterans who know where they need to be and are conditioned quite well and a lot of freshmen and younger girls, so we are rebuilding.

"Our tradition helps. Being state champion for four years will help motivate the girls to work hard and the team to pull together."

Cooper has plenty of company in the talent department. Lecia Brown, who won the state title in the 400 and finished runner-up in the 100 last year as a freshman, returns. The 4x400 relay team is the defending state champion and expected to be strong again this year.

The small school track season is expected to be just as competitive if not more than the large schools.

Nicole Schappert, a junior at Pope John Paul II is coming off an outstanding track season where she won the 1,600 meters in 5:05.48 and the 3,200 in 11:06.81. Close behind is teammate Jackie Areson, the recent Gulfstream Mile winner. Benjamin sisters Mercedes and Morgan Anderson are expected to be among the state's best. Mercedes, a senior, is the defending state champion in the 400.